An IT expert who was told she couldn't fit work around her childcare commitments has won a settlement for sex discrimination.

Mother-of-two Ansy Mathews, of Cheylesmore, Coventry, took Wolverhampton City Council to an industrial tribunal when it refused to let her adjust her starting time when she returned from maternity leave after having her second baby, Isabelle, now aged two.

The senior systems programmer - who was with the council for about 11 years - had worked flexitime before going on maternity leave but when she got back, she was told she would have to work fixed hours starting at 8am every day, the tribunal heard.

She told her boss child-care commitments meant she couldn't start that early but she could work the same flexible hours as others in her department.

The council's policy on flexible working hours and equal opportunities allowed women returning from maternity leave to work reduced hours for 12 weeks.

But Mrs Mathews said she was forced to resign over the issue, without notice pay.

She said: "The severe problem was the timing - I had no hope of being in work when they wanted me to be.

"We had a meeting and they told me to accept it or resign.

"When you are faced with such a situation and you have a young baby, it's very difficult.

"No woman should have to choose between her career or her children."

Mrs Mathews, who has another child, Gabrielle, five, and is expecting her third child in August, was given an undisclosed settlement reflecting loss of earnings and the distress and upset she was caused.

Fiona Monk, Coventry Law Centre's employment and discrimination solicitor, who advised on the case, said: "Behaviour like that of Wolverhampton council means that an employer can lose skilled and talented members of staff.

"Winning cases like this sends a signal to employers and employees alike: Employees do have rights and they can enforce them."